Manchester Crimewatch: Allegations bring 8 felony charges

MANCHESTER — Hector Rincon, 21, of 135 Orange St., could enter no plea Friday in Circuit Court-Manchester District Division to eight felony counts of assault that allege he assaulted his 17-year-old girlfriend several times, starting late Wednesday night and continuing Thursday morning in an apartment at 363 Lake Ave.

The alleged assaults include biting her shoulder, punching her in the head and face, grabbing her by the hair, kicking her in the back, and repeatedly striking her with a belt. The charges are felony level because Rincon was convicted of violation of a protective order Jan. 3, 2012.

Two criminal threatening charges allege he told her that after his father and brother left in the morning: “I’m gonna get you.”

A misdemeanor charge of endangering the welfare of a child alleges the young woman was having trouble holding onto her six-month-old child during the assaults.

Rincon pleaded innocent to a charge of second-offense operating without a license on South Willow Street. The charge is a misdemeanor because he was convicted of the violation of operating without a license Nov. 12, 2013.

Because no plea can be entered to a felony in Circuit Court, a probable cause hearing on the felonies was set for March 5. Trial on the misdemeanors was set for April 9. Rincon is free on $15,000 cash/surety bail, with conditions that include no contact with his girlfriend or the infant.

Police prosecutor Carrissa Pelletier said an officer clocked Nieves at 52 mph in a 30 mph zone crossing the Bridge Street Bridge. Following a stop at McGregor Street, Nieves was found with three small packages of marijuana, police said.

Under terms of the plea agreement, Nieves was to pay $350 plus penalty assessment on the drug charge and a six-month sentence in the House of Correction was suspended for two years of good behavior. A $500 fine and another six months in the House of Corrections on the license charge were suspended for two years of good behavior and a $100 fine on the speeding charge was suspended for one year of good behavior.

Says it wasn’t his

Ivan Hernandez, 19, who gave a new address of 42 Massabesic St., could enter no plea Friday in Circuit Court-Manchester District Division to a felony charge of possession of a controlled drug with intent to sell, so a probable cause hearing was set for Feb. 20.

Court documents show that an officer looking for a vehicle involved in a hit-and-run spotted Hernandez’ vehicle on Spruce Street Thursday evening. He wrote that Hernandez, the owner, was seated in the passenger seat and when he approached: “I was overwhelmed by the odor of what appeared to be marijuana coming from the passenger compartment.”

The court documents show a black bag was on the passenger side floor and after Hernandez gave permission for the car to be searched, the bag was opened. It contained clear plastic bags, a black digital scale, a black air-soft gun that looked like an authentic small semi automatic, and two bags containing a green vegetative matter that field tested positive for marijuana, police said.

According to documents, the bags and marijuana weighed about 2 ounces, which the officer described as “substantially more than for personal use.”In court, Hernandez told Judge William Lyons: “That backpack wasn’t mine.”

Hernandez had failed to appear in court on charges of operating without a license and unregistered vehicle, from an Oct. 11, 2013, stop on South Willow Street. He agreed to serve off the $50 failure to appear fee.

A probable cause hearing on the felony was set for Feb. 20 and trial of the motor vehicle charges was set for March 19. A police prosecutor had sought $4,000 cash/surety bail, but Hernandez asked for a lower bail. Lyons said he would reduce it to $3,000 cash/surety, but because Hernandez had failed to appear in court, anything lower was not appropriate.

Says he was in jail

David Ferreira, 39, of 800 Page St., said Friday in Circuit Court-Manchester District Division that the reason he failed to appear on charges in Salem District Division was because he was in the Valley Street Jail in connection with local domestic-related offenses.

Ferreira was sought by Salem on charges of habitual offender, possession of a controlled drug (2) and second offense operating after suspension, stemming from an Oct. 27, 2013, stop on Interstate 93.